Atleti closer to Madrid after Ronaldo sale – Simeone

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Diego Simeone says Atletico Madrid are closer to rivals Real Madrid following the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo and is baffled as to why Antoine Griezmann has been overlooked in the Best FIFA awards.

Madrid won the Champions League for a third straight year in 2017-18 with Ronaldo once again the driving force in that triumph with 15 goals in the tournament.

But the Portugal captain left La Liga in a sensational €112million switch to Juventus in July following nine trophy and goal-laden seasons at the Santiago Bernabeu.

And Simeone believes his team, who finished above Madrid in La Liga last term and defeated Los Blancos in August’s UEFA Super Cup, are now on a more level playing field with their city rivals.

‘From the results we aren’t worse than Madrid or Barca, from the individual characteristics of our players, yes,’ he said in an interview with El Partidazo de COPE.

‘Without Cristiano, we have approached Real Madrid level, for sure.’

Simeone was also quizzed on Griezmann, who over the past four months has become a World Cup winner with France and helped Atleti to Europa League and Super Cup glory.

However, Griezmann did not make the shortlist for the Best FIFA Men’s Player, with Ronaldo, Luka Modric and Mohamed Salah battling it out – a decision the player himself labelled “bizarre”.

And Simeone was disappointed to see his star man’s achievements overlooked.

‘He hasn’t had an explanation – World Cup winner, Super Cup, Europa League, second in La Liga, best player in the [World Cup] final,’ he added.

‘In this past year, he was the best in the world. It is a pity. We do not underestimate ourselves to think that it is because he plays for Atletico, it will be a lack of imagination of people who choose.

‘Obviously, it disappoints a little. But it’s clear that Griezmann was the best last season.

In June, Griezmann signed a new deal with Atleti through to 2023 despite reported interest from Barcelona, a move Simeone insists he never expected to happen.

‘I swear on my kids that I never saw us losing him,’ he said. ‘I never saw him at Barcelona. I always felt like he would stay.’

Jan Oblak is another Atleti star who has been snubbed for big individual prizes, missing out on the nominees for goalkeeper in the FIFPro World 11 awards.

Simeone was asked about Oblak and insists former Atleti loanee Thibaut Courtois, who joined rivals Madrid from Chelsea in the last window, would not get in his team.

‘Oblak is the best and at least in the top three keepers in the world,’ Simeone insisted. ‘Courtois would not be a starter at Atletico. Oblak is better,’ he concluded.

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Marshall Gouts